Katherine Tobin | WSP

I was lucky that I stumbled across ‘Engineering’ in a university prospectus when I didn’t know what to do with my love of science and art. Being at an all-girls school, I had to look up the definition for ‘Engineer’ as it wasn’t anywhere on the usual list of potential vocations presented to us.

After I graduated, I joined a fantastic team of structural engineers at WSP. In less than three years I have already been involved in designing some of London’s biggest and most exciting projects, including a 62 storey skyscraper: 22 Bishopsgate. On this incredible (and challenging!) project, I loved being involved in the design of the soaring structural ‘spine’ which keeps the building from falling over, and also mega basement structures which transfer colossal forces into the earth.

As well as skyscrapers, I am proud to have created a vast range of interesting designs- including steel trusses the size of bridges, micro-home modular buildings, a timber office structure straddling a 120 year old brick sewer, a luxury subterranean swimming pool, and a Victorian house extension.

I am passionate about promoting our exciting industry to girls, and about women becoming our future leaders. In my short time at WSP I have dedicated myself to being a positive female role model. I have mentored young engineers and apprentices, given numerous presentations promoting engineering, been filmed by the BBC, interviewed by TimeOut magazine and spoken in many schools- I’m intent on breaking the myth of engineers having grey beards and muddy hard hats!